Automatic switch.



F. WILLIAMS.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 190B.

Patnted Nov. 17, 1908.

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F. WILLIAMS. AUTOMATIC SWITGH. summon FILED PEB.24, 1908'.

Patented Nov. 17,1908.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLOYD WILLIAMS, OF HUDSON, LOUISIANA.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

Application filed February 24, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FLOYD VILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hudson, in the parish of Vinn and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Switch, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to automatic switches and has for its object to provide means operable by a passing train for automatically closing the switch, should the latter he accidentally or otherwise left open.

A further object is to provide a track device including a pivotal lever having one end thereof operatively connected with the switch and its opposite end extended into the path of movement of an approaching train and actuated by the latter to close the switch.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a rail-way track provided with a switch constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the track device or casing showing the switch throwing lever locked in inoper ative position. Fig. 4 is a detail transverse sectional view of the oscillating disk or wheel. Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the manner of mounting the tappet on the engine.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved switch throwing mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention is principally designed for use in connection with steam or electric railways and by Way of illustration is shown in connection with a railway of the ordinary construction in which 5 designates the main line, 6 the siding and 7 the switch points mounted on the cross ties 8, as shown.

Arranged on one side of the track and preferably disposed parallel with the adja- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1'7, 1908.

Serial No. 417,614.

cent main rail 5 is a casing or housing 9, in which is pivotally mounted at 10 a switch throwing lever, the latter being operable by a passing train to effect the movement of the switch rails, in the manner hereinafter described. The casing or housing 9 is preferably formed of parallel side members spaced apart to form an intermediate compartment 11 for the reception of the switch throwing lever, the upper longitudinal edges of the side members of the casing being inclined downwardly in the direction of the track, as indicated at 12. The switch throwing lever is preferably formed in two sections pivotally united at 13, the upper section of the lever being arranged to enter a notch or recess 14 in one of the side walls of the casing for locking the switch throwing lever against further movement after the switch is in closed position.

Arranged near the switch points 7 and interposed between adjacent cross ties 8 is a supporting bracket 15 on which is mounted an oscillating member or disk. The oscillat ing member is preferably formed in two sections 16 and 17 rigidly secured together by a series of vertically disposed bolts 18, preferably three in number, as shown, said disk being pivotally mounted on the bracket 15 by a pivot pin 19.

Pivotally connected at 20 to the lower section of the switch throwing lever is a longitudinally disposed rod 21, the opposite end of which is connected to one of the bolts 18, there being a similar rod 22 connected to an adjacent bolt and disposed at substantially right angles to the rod 21 for connection with a semaphore or other suitable signal. (Not shown.)

One of the switch points 7 is provided with a perforated lug 23 to which is connected the adjacent end of a coiled spring 2%, the opposite end of the spring 2 1 being connected with a switch throwing rod 25 fastened to one of the bolts 18. It will thus be seen that when the switch throwing lever is moved in in the path of movement of the switch throwing lever is an inclined rod 26 forming in ef; feet a cam and serving to move the upper section of the switch throwing lever into engagement with the recess 14 and thus prevent further movement of said lever, after the switch is in closed position. The rod 26 is provided with oppositely disposed spurs 27 arranged to be driven or otherwise embedded in the upper longitudinal edges of the siding members of the casing or housing, as shown. If desired, however, the rod 26 may be cast integral with or otherwise rigidly secured to the casing or housing.

A suitable staple 28 is driven into one of the side walls of the casing 9 near the notch 14 for registration with a similar staple 29 carried by the upper section of the switch throwing lever so that the hasp of a pad-lock or similar fastening device may be passed through said staples to prevent an unauthorized person from operating the switch throwing lever.

The lower section 17 of the oscillating member or disk is provided with a series of depressions or recesses 30 of different depths so as to prevent the rods 21, 22 and 25 from coming in contact with each other when the switchis operated.

A spring 31 is disposed within the co npartment 11 and operatively connected with the pivot 10 of the switch throwing lever, thereby to yieldably support said lever within the casing and thus prevent injury to the same by impact with a passing train. A suitable spring 32 is also preferably disposed at the pivotal juncture of the sections of the switch throwing lever to prevent unnecessary jar on the upper section of said lever when the latter is thrown into engagement with the locking notch 14.

As a means for operating the switch a rod 33 is preferably mounted on the engine with one end thereof bent upwardly to form an operating handle 34 disposed in the cab of the engine with its opposite end provided with a crank arm or tappet 35 arranged to bear against the upper section of the switch throwing lever as the train travels in the direction of the switch. Should the switch be left in open position the engineer operates the lever 34 so as to extend the tappet 15 in the path of movement of the switch throwing lever which causes said tappet to engage the upper section of the switch throwing lever and tilt said lever within the casing, thereby to rotate the disk and through the medium of the rod 25 effect the closing of the switch. As the upper section of the switch throwing lever is moved in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 2 by impact with the tappet on the engine, said section will engage the inclined rod or cam 26, which will force said section within the locking notch or recess 14 and thus prevent accidental opening movement of said switch during the passage of the train.

In order to open the switch it is merely necessary to move the upper section of the switch throwing lever to vertical position and then swing said lever to the full line position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing when the rods 21 and 25 through the medium of the disk will effect the opening of the switch.

From the foregoing description, it is thought that the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is: r

1. The combination with the main rails and siding, of the switch rails, a casing mounted near the track, a lever pivotally mounted in the casing and having one end thereof operatively connected with the switch rails and its opposite end extended in the path of movement of a passing train to effect the closing of the switch, said lever being provided with a pivoted section adapted to enter a notch in the casing when the switch is in closed position.

2. The combination with the main rails and siding, of the switch rails, a casing mounted near the track and having a locking notch formed therein, a sectional switch throwing lever pivotally mounted in the casing and operatively connected with the switch rails, and a cam secured to the casing near said notch for directing the upper section of the switch throwing lever into engagement with said notch when the switch is in closed position.

3. The combination with the main rails and siding, of the switch rails, a casing mounted near the track and having a notch formed therein, a sectional switch throwing lever pivotally mounted in the casing and having its lower section operatively c011- nected with. the switch throwing lever and its upper section disposed in the path of movement of a passing train, and an inclined rod extending transversely across the casing for directing the upper section of said switch throwing lever into the locking notch when said lever is operated to close the switch.

4. The combination with the main rails and siding, of the switch rails, a casing mounted near the main rails and having side walls spaced apart to form an intermediate compartment, one of said walls being provided wit-h a locking notch, a sectional operating lever pivotally mounted between the side walls of the casing and having its lower section operatively connected with the switch rails and its upper section disposed in the path of movement of a passing train, and a rod extending transversely across the compartment and having an inclined face for directing the upper section of the switch throwing lever into the locking notch when the switch is moved to closed position.

5. The combination with the main rails and siding, of the switch rails, a casing mounted near the main rails and having spaced side walls the upper edges of which are inclined downwardly in opposite directions, the inclined edge of one of the side walls being provided with a locking notch, a sectional lever pivotally mounted between the side walls, a connection between the lower section of said lever and the switch rails, a spring surrounding the pivot point of the switch throwing lever for yieldably supporting said lever within the casing, and a rod connecting the side walls of the casing and having an inclined face for throwing the upper section of the lever into engagement with the locking notch when the switch is moved to closed position.

6. The combination with the main rails and siding, of the switch rails, a disk mounted for oscillation near the switch rails, a rod forming a pivotal connection between the switch rails and said disk, a casing spaced from the disk and provided with a locking recess, a sectional lever pivotally mounted in the casing, a connection between the disk and lower section of the switch throwing lever, a rod having a cam face for throwing the upper section of the switch throwing lever into the locking notch when the switch is moved to closed position, said upper section being disposed in the path of movement of a passing train and actuated by the latter to effect the closing of the switch.

7. The combination. with the main rails and siding, of the switch rails, a bracket disposed adjacent the switch rails, a disk mounted for oscillation on the bracket and including spaced sections, the lower one of which is provided with a series of depressions of different depths, bolts connect-ing the sections of the disk and piercing the lower section at said depressions, a rod forming a pivotal connection between the switch rails and one of the bolts, a casing spaced from the disk and provided with a locking notch, a sectional switch throwing lever pivotally mounted on the casing, a rod forming a pivotal connection between the lower section of said lever and another bolt on the disk, a cam for directing the upper section of the switch throwing lever into the locking notch when the switch is moved to closed position, the upper section of the lever being actuated by a passing train to effect the closing of the switch.

FLOYD WVILLIAMS. \Vitnesses J. T. lVILsoN,

A. L. HoNEYoU'rr. 

